Closed threads and closed minds (at CD Freaks)

[blutach]

I refer to this thread at CD Freaks, started by me (which I was castigated by an over zealous and biased moderator there for posting initially in the AnyDVD price coupon thread, which, at the time was open for posting), which lead to my being "sin binned" for accusing him of bias (naturally, they haven't had the courtesy of responding to my formal appeal of this rubbish).

Despite Alan1476's and his cohorts' shortcomings about not allowing the discussion on their beloved products to continue (after finally agreeing to allow the thread), I feel we do need a forum to discuss it. I mean, what's so wrong about politely discussing product pricing? Where is the sin in that? Was there flaming in the thread or was it against forum rules? And if so, that is the time to close it, not just you don't like the content, the original poster or both. CDF is wayyyyyy too much beholden to commercial interests, I say.

Feel free to post here (positive or negative) but please respect rule 19 (no discussion about ripping). Please, discussions only about the price aspects, not about ripping. All opinions will be respected provided they do not break forum rules. Oh! that's what CDF say in their rules - but sadly, they are hollow.

More background reading here and especially here.



Regards

[NightTran]

that is why I come there to read for information purpose only

[Aegmorgil]

At first I was annoyed because I couldn't find what was "bad" about your post, Blu.

Of course, that's when it occurred to me that there isn't anything to find. Why in all hells should discussion about pricing be discouraged???

[Abuilder]

That is ludicrous!
That whole thread should be moved to freaks bargain basement where every other word is cheap, coupon, discount, bargain, FREE, promo, giveaway, deal, price,etc,etc, etc!
LOL

[blutach]

Folks - whether you support me or not (I have been informed that my temporary ban at CDF will not be reviewed), what I am hoping this thread will do is give people the opportunity - within forum rules - to discuss pricing of your favourite apps (not just AnyDVD) - something they have been denied at CDF (the place of free speech, )

Support for my stand and position is nice (and VERY much appreciated), but what I really want this thread to be is a place where we can politely exchange views without being beholden to commercial interests and having overly-hairy chested mods (without the brains to match) browbeat members who do nothing wrong except obey forum rules.

In any event, I find this 20% off after putting 50% on a bit too much to bow down over and say "what a deal, get it while it's hot". I find the inexorable price increases of high magnitude over a long period of time to be usurous. People who have bought early don't care of course but many say, "If I had to do it again, I wouldn't" (of course, others happily say the converse). Of course, no-one has a gun to your head, do they?

I still haven't bought it and never will.

Regards

[dr_ml422]

I knew they were a bit tight around the collar w/respect to certain things but this is way out there. I answered and discussed the same thing over at ADw/no problem whatsoever. Matter of fact they're still discussing it to my knowledge. Well sometimes one has to treat certain things like a buffet and take what you want and leave the rest. Those prices are horrendous. Euro or not. Even when I have the $$$ to get something, I always see what's available along the same lines and if comparable and cheaper go that route. If there was no way around it then I just pull the trigger and get it. Like my friend always says,"Check the source and let it go."

[locoeng]

I don't see anywhere in that thread were a "sin bin" was warranted Blu unless something transpired in a deleted post or in a PM. It certainly doesn't seem fair to me. I've been around you for enough years to know your stance on many of the popular programs that are available so I don't have to ask While I do own AnyDVD, I haven't used it in probably about a year and personally found the price increase appalling as have many others.

[drpepper]

WOW... read over all the past posts 12/07- present. Now that I missed lunch & dinner-just kidding... Seems clear- large 1 time increase is what it is- a Large increase. Very good point to discuss. Problem -most appear to point out overall value of product vs the 1 time "pop" discussion. Many pages later same point, but with clear sides of who supports the paid product no matter what. Seems current update of the older December discussion was to hot to handle & it was silenced since it was clear the alan had his support of product & was not budging.
What does seem fair would be to discuss this topic again once the OTHER program can offer similar features. They do have a free option BUT did just bundle it with their paid & striped out a mobile feature. No not a 50% increase overnight but might be a trend.
Also, the "shronk"- ok word right?- discussion of "...what has happen over all these years - I am working on another project"- over at the other forum - will the endeaver be a pd program? & how much?

[blutach]

In respect to your last question doc, there is no indication - but I think the assumption is that it is a paid product - what it is, is entirely up for speculation, but my own thoughts are that it could be Ner0 Recode (which many people have bought).

And yes, there seems to be 2 sides, one pushing I don't care about price; quality is what matters (and that's fair enough in my view, by the way); the other saying, well how can you justify continual high price rises for the same product (OK, it is updated, but they offer lifetime free updates anyway)?

Please be careful about discussing decryption in this thread. This thread is NOT about decryption; it is about product pricing.

Regards

[dr_ml422]

Funny how things are huh. The other forum supposedly is to be less rigid and therefore a place where you could discuss what rule 19 forbids and there you have it, a perfect case of egomania w/control and personality issues. I'm surprised they didn't give me a warning when I went at it w/the tech from Pioneer. Anyhow, the other proggie seemed fair enough 4 me to get not only 4 myself but 4 some support as the guys behind it have been cool about responding to our concerns. I wish some of the other freeware we frequently use would change their mode of donation to include cc. I'd throw them a lil something. Something always told me to stay here and just frequent the other places when needed. I've found answers to almost everything I've needed right here at DVF.

I saw and read a couple of times where they threw jabs at you Blu in regards to DVF. No biggie. A forum though should be open to all who abide by their rules. Principles before personality is a must in this kind of atmosphere.

[NightTran]

they are just intimidate of your knowledges not the post period at all time Blu

[Cl0n3rdude]

Hi I have seen some strange threads that Alan dude has closed due to not even understanding-knowing what the persons problem is. This is one for instance http://club.cdfreaks.com/f116/dvdfab...ce-dvd-247166/ the person was really not in the know how the program worked and he just closed it.

The place cdfreaks seems to be a if your not in their clique then get lost. We make our own rules along the way. I was going to join there but if that is the way they treat people i want no part of it.

I lurk at most places and never join forums but this is really unreal for you to get sin binned which i guess is punishment in some way for talking about a pay product that way over charges these days. Sorry i just had to say something. unreal

[rcubed]

Bluetach,
As I (and you) can attest, there are some people over at CDF that get really bent out of shape when you point out something wasn't working right in one of the programs under discussion threads in their forums, they have some "really staunch" supporters of some of the products and seem to take personal offense when you point out a short coming of a particular piece of software. They especially get bent out of shape when you agree with what they are trying to say, but point out technical issues that have a valid basis. I can understand your frustration, and also saw nothing in the thread on your part that was subject to be "sin binned". Your points are accurate and well thought out. I have considered buying one of SlySofts products, but the costs outweighed the benefits that I thought would get.

On the subject of software pricing. It will be interesting to see how $MS prices its new OS. (OS 7 I believe it will be called). Considering the time it took from XP to the Vista release and the recently announced projected release of this new $MS OS, I have a hard time believing it's only going to be anything but a warmed over Vista, with a new shrink rap, based on the previous development cycle times between OSs. Are there features that really make it worth the increased cost. IMHO their attempts to make the recent OSs transparent and seamless extension of the internet have led to their security problems.

Also I'm not very fond of any software that wants to do auto updates w/o my approval. At least they allow you to turn that off. Plus their software's attempt to "phone home" every so often, that's one of the first things I block with my software fire wall. They also seemed to have made an attempt in some cases to force you to actually go to their website and download in realtime the updates, and they have removed the ability to download the update package and keep them resident on you system for future use. I can understand their not supporting a product indefinitely but to stop supplying the existing update packages seems a little extreme. I don't know whether or not this is a direct effort to force people to have to update to new software (read that as their 5yr business model), but I have my suspecions. They sure have had push back with regard to the release of Vista. Anyone else have views on this one?

You have my support!

rcubed

[locoeng]

Slightly off topic, but concerning Windows phoning home....

In 1999, Robert Smith, then the president of Brookline, Mass., developer Phar Lap Software Inc., discovered that Microsoft's Windows 98 and Office 1997 were digitally "fingerprinting" files with the user's Ethernet card address (also called the MAC address). Windows 98 was also transmitting the MAC address to Microsoft as part of the registration process, without the user's permission or knowledge.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9025058&pageNumber=2

[doctorhardware]

If Microsoft raised the price of windows say like 100%. You would hear every one complaining that Microsoft is gouging on the price increase. It is the same thing that anydvd did and you were banned for. I saw no reason for that.